JBL Authentics 200

The JBL Authentics 200 is the middle model in JBL’s retro-styled Authentics range, which revives the Quadrex grille and the leather-look wrap of the company’s 1970s speakers in a modern wireless system.

The unusual feature across the range is having both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant available at the same time, rather than choosing one.

What Apple Home actually does with it

This is an AirPlay 2 speaker rather than a HomeKit accessory.

• It appears in the Home app as a speaker you can play to, and as an AirPlay target in Control Centre.
• You can assign it to a room and group it with HomePods for synchronised multi-room audio.
• Siri can send music to it by room name.
• It can be the audio output in a scene or an automation.

You cannot switch it on or set its volume from the Home app the way you would a light. Those stay with the speaker itself and its own app.

Before you buy

The Authentics 200 is a stereo speaker in one cabinet, which suits a sideboard or a kitchen counter better than the larger models suit a shelf.

Judge the styling first. These are bought because of how they look, and the sound is good rather than exceptional for the money.

The Authentics 500 is the larger model with Dolby Atmos processing.

Specifications